Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-05
Twelfth Night at Heywode.

Heywode, albeit in New jersey, is
rs pretty little village as ever one
might wish TO see. Settled long and
long ago by few English families. it
retains. in the garden-like neatness of
its surroundings. in its hawthorn
hedges, in its purplish pink Judas
trees, which seem almost to color the
air in the spring-time. and, above all.
In its clinging To old customs, very
pleasant resemblance to the mother
country, mingled agreeably with the
more progressive and liberal features
of the states.
And so, with true regard to tradition.
Harold Heywode of Heywode insisted
that the Christmas holidays should take
think of concluding before Twelfth
Night.
Christmas was over. New Years
had passed, Twelfth Night had arrived.
The evergreens had been up so long
that the house was fragrant as a pine
forest; cheerful, open fires burned on
the hearths, and the old mansion was
full of company. Merry voices rang
through the VIDE halls, dancing feet
passed to and fro; if door opened,
sound of lively music was heard; and
yet the master of all this cheer. the
envied, admired. much battered Harold
Heywode, was standing alone in his
own little study. gazing gloomily into
the fire with an out-of.hear expression
not often seen on his calm face.
Mr. lieywode was nearly thirty,
good-looking, and unmarried. Not
only the managing mothers of the
neighborhood glanced friendly wise in
his direction, and praised their amiable
daughters, to his endless amusement,
but the fame of his wealth and excel
lence was known far and wide. if not
from pole to pole Everybody wonder
cd why he had not married; why he
did not marry now; and plenty of
reasons were invented to account for
this singular circumstance, some even
going so far as to hint at Il secret
marriage or IA buried sorrow, the practi-
cal preferrng IA skeleton in the poor
fellows cupboard and the romantic
content with nothing less than a
tangled thread of golden hair around
his heart.
This last theory, | may as well adj
init, was the + CHIT one. and Mr. Hey
wode, alone in his household of merry
makers, was thinking of a Twelfth
Night five years ago, when his parents
had entertained just such another set
of light hearted guests, and when he,
one of the happiest among them, found
the ring in the cake, and gave it to
pretty Rosamond Young. who lost it
before the evening WAS over-a bad
omen which came true. For, some
way, she was never the same after
ward, and when he wanted to give her
another ring in its place, she would not
accept it, but told him-rudely, I'M
kindly-to carry his gift to Anna Mari.
They had often met since then; but
there had never been any explanation
between them, and she was now a
guest of his house. and engaged at last
or so it was said-to (of all people
for herD the gravest, most sedate
Judge Wesley John, her guardian, and
her fathers early friend. She was
lovely as ever. more gentle now, and
there was something touching, almost
appealing. in her manner when she
spoke 10 him. Could she regret those
old days? Was she altogether happy
in her engagement? But what non
sense; of course she was. He recalled
one afternoon before the Christmas
Just ended, when he had followed
Judge John to the door of room
where the merrymakers were fashion
Ing mysterious gifts, and Rosamond
had hidden gorgeous silken cushion
she was making for him, while with
Ger hand she playfully blinded her
elderly guardians eyes. There seem
cd to be the pleasantest understand ne
OelWttl lntH. w tlls Ht bDDtu SIG
might be happy, but summer and win
ter can never agree" and he doubted
if
Come inr' this in response TO q
very prosaic knock, and his housekeeper
entered
"What now, Mrs. Barkley?"
"Tvc got everything ready, sir, as
you ordered--the bean baked in one
cake, the pea in another, the ring in
the lady cake, and all.
well "a trihe mpatiently-
that's all right
1.-The young people are wild about
the fun, Miss Rosamond rs full of it as
any of them. She babe me ask if sh.
might light the conservatory, and have
the little fountain started like it wa'
that nigh: five years since"
mo-" in decidedly irate tone from
the master of the house.